Why CAF postponed the 2024 CHAN tournament

The Confederation of African Football have announced the postponement of the 2024 CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN), Soccernet.ng reports.

The highest footballing ruling body in Africa made this announcement on Tuesday night, just hours before the draw for the competition.

In the secular shared via CAF's social media pages, the competition will now begin in August, seven months after the initial kick-off date in February. Nonetheless, the draw which was initially scheduled for Wednesday, January 15 will still go on as planned.

The President of CAF Patrice Motsepe also appreciated the governments of the three host countries – Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda for their efforts in ensuring the successful hosting of the tournament.

“I would like to express my deep gratitude to President William Ruto of Kenya, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda for their leadership, commitment and the good progress that has been made in building and upgrading the stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals and other infrastructure and facilities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for hosting a successful TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (“CHAN”) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda 2024,” Motsepe said.

“I am impressed with the ongoing construction and renovations of the football infrastructure and facilities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. I am confident that the stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals and other infrastructure and facilities will be at the requisite CAF standards for hosting, in August 2025, a very successful TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (“CHAN”) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda 2024.”

Why Has CAF Postponed CHAN?

In recent weeks, CAF has been under fire due to the poor planning of the competition. However, top on the list of issues is that the host countries are not prepared yet.

CAF confirmed that the CHAN tournament will host this February on September 26th, 2024 – less than six months to the competition. Who does that? Only CAF for sure.

— Samuel Areo (@Undisputed_Jsam) January 3, 2025

Most of the stadiums that will host the games are still under renovation or construction. And that was evident in Motsepe's statement.

An absolutely needless tournament.

Scrap it and stop wasting everybody's time. It is a logistical nightmare and serves no real purpose.

Bite the bullet. Accept that it is not working – every evidence before your eyes tells you so.

Be grown-ups and scrap it. #CHAN.

— Calvin ‘Emeka Onwuka (@CalvinEmeka) January 14, 2025

An absolutely needless tournament.

Scrap it and stop wasting everybody's time. It is a logistical nightmare and serves no real purpose.

Bite the bullet. Accept that it is not working – every evidence before your eyes tells you so.

Be grown-ups and scrap it. #CHAN.

— Calvin ‘Emeka Onwuka (@CalvinEmeka) January 14, 2025

Also, some of the teams that are supposed to play the competition are not ready or willing due to the poor planning and tight schedule.

EFA technical committee member confirms:

Egypt will play the CHAN with the u21 national team and few senior players.

Announcement expected before CHAN draw on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/3I7ieoRPW3

— Tosin X (@Cosimo_diMedici) January 11, 2025

What next for Nigeria's Super Eagles Team B?

The Super Eagles team B, sometimes referred to as the CHAN Eagles have been camped in Ogun state in recent weeks, but this will automatically draw the curtains on all preparations for the meantime.

The new Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle traveled down to “supervise the team” as earlier stated by the Nigeria Football Federation President Ibrahim Gusau. However, he will now have the chance to focus on the upcoming 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in March.